Mystical Fantasy : Not the Destiny Heroine

Darkness.

No walls. No sky. No sound.

Jinhyuk stood alone in a strange place—an endless void. His steps were heavy. His breath short. He was just a child—seven years old. His clothes were worn, his body trembling.

"Where… is this…?" his voice was barely a whisper.

Suddenly, out of the gray mist, two familiar figures appeared—his father and mother.

"Appa...? Eomma…!"

Jinhyuk ran toward them, tears falling uncontrollably.

But just before he could reach out and touch them, their bodies faded like smoke… disappearing slowly, leaving him alone again.

"NO!!"

His small legs shook. He fell to his knees. Then he heard another voice—soft, calming.

"Jinhyuk…"

His eyes widened.

Yoon Seri.

She smiled from afar. Her face glowing in the void. Jinhyuk stood again, trying to reach her.

But—

BRUGH!

A tall man in a dark cloak grabbed Seri's hand and pulled her into the mist.

"SERIIIIIIII!!"

Jinhyuk ran, pushing through the intangible emptiness. But then his steps stopped.

In front of him… a cliff.

So deep he couldn't see the bottom. Pitch black.

He looked down. Breath caught in his chest.

And from the darkness below…

A massive eye opened.

Wide. Staring at him.

Jinhyuk tried to scream—but no sound came out of his mouth.

And then—

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!"

He woke up.

His body drenched in sweat. Breathing ragged. Heart pounding wildly.

A dim white light hung from the ceiling. The sharp smell of disinfectant stung his nose.

"Jinhyuk-ssi…?"

He turned. Han-na sat on the bed next to his. Her hair messy, face pale, but her eyes were open. She looked at him with concern.

"Oh… you're awake…" Jinhyuk wiped his face. "I… think I had a nightmare. Sorry. Did I disturb your rest?"

"No, but… it must've been a really bad one," Han-na said softly. "You screamed pretty loud."

Jinhyuk tried to calm himself, sitting up in bed. His blanket slid off, revealing bandages on his arm. He glanced toward Han-na.

"How are you feeling, Han-na-ssi?"

Han-na took a breath. "A bit dizzy… but better than last night."

She looked down for a moment, then back at him.

"Jinhyuk-ssi… what exactly happened last night?"

Jinhyuk froze for a second.

Han-na continued gently, "I… remember someone attacking us. There was a knife… I think I got stabbed. But now…" She looked at her own body. "I don't see any wound. Just a few bruises on my arms and sides."

Silence.

Jinhyuk looked away, unsure how to respond.

"Oh that… you were probably just delirious," he said awkwardly. "You passed out last night, and I brought you here."

Han-na stared at her tattered clothes. There was a tear and dried bloodstain on the back.

"Then… what's this?"

Jinhyuk laughed nervously. "Ah, that… maybe you hit a tree branch when I was carrying you. I was kind of panicking."

Han-na looked at him, not entirely convinced. But she didn't push further.

She just gave a small chuckle and lowered her head.

"…Thank you, Jinhyuk-ssi."

Her voice was sincere.

And Jinhyuk could only nod. Deep down, he knew… this lie meant nothing. It was just that the truth was too confusing to explain.

Because the world he lived in now… was no longer the same as yesterday.

Jinhyuk stood up from his chair and took a deep breath. "Han-na-ssi, just rest here for now. I still have a class this afternoon… I have to go to campus."

Han-na, sitting with her knees hugged on the bed, gave a small nod. "Okay…"

Jinhyuk gave a faint smile. "I'll come back later. Maybe a bit late."

He walked out of the hospital room. As he passed through the corridor and exited the front entrance, he let out a long sigh and opened his worn leather wallet.

Empty. Just a few coins and a crumpled bill. Not even enough for a bus fare.

The hospital bill... still unpaid. And I'm still starving.

Jinhyuk gripped his wallet tightly. Then took out his phone and opened his banking app. He still had a small amount saved—money he'd set aside for emergencies only.

Is this… an emergency?

He paused. Then decided to transfer part of it to the hospital's account.

After that, without overthinking, he decided to walk to campus. It wasn't too far, but just enough to make anyone sweat in the midday sun.

But… fifteen minutes passed.

Oddly, he didn't feel tired. His breathing was steady. His body light. Not even a hint of soreness.

Since when… was I this strong?

He stared at his hand, then glanced at the black ring on his middle finger. Was this… the effect of Ryuga's energy from that day?

A faint vibration pulsed from the ring, as if answering. But no voice. No reaction beyond that.

Finally, Jinhyuk arrived at the dormitory gate. He took a breath and brushed the dust off his pants. Just as he was about to enter—

BRAK!

A luxury sedan sped in from the left, nearly hitting him. Jinhyuk froze in place.

The car screeched to a stop just inches in front of him.

"Hey! Are you crazy?!" a woman's voice shouted from inside.

The passenger door flung open. A young woman stepped out, wearing oversized sunglasses and a flashy outfit like a celebrity lost in a college zone. She stormed over, full of attitude.

"Do you have a death wish? At least check before crossing the road!"

Jinhyuk stared at her calmly. "Sorry, miss. But this is a dormitory zone. Private vehicles aren't allowed in here."

The woman scoffed. Before she could reply, the driver's side door opened. A young man stepped out, dressed in casual yet obviously expensive foreign-brand fashion. He strutted over and grabbed Jinhyuk by the collar.

"How dare you lecture us. Don't you know who we are, huh?!"

Jinhyuk was surprised. But not because he recognized them.

Because the whole scene felt like a low-budget drama.

The guy smirked. "Ah… shocked, aren't you? Finally realized who you're messing with?"

He shoved Jinhyuk backward.

Jinhyuk stumbled a little, but quickly regained balance. Not angry. Just… puzzled.

Then he raised his hand with a small wave.

"No, no… I have absolutely no idea who you are," he said with a slight laugh. "But seriously? People still say, 'Do you know who we are?' these days? Damn… I thought that line only existed in soap operas."

Their faces flushed red with anger. The woman cursed. The man clenched his teeth and pointed at Jinhyuk.

"We're the children of the university president, got that?! One word from us, and a lowlife like you could be expelled within a week!"

Jinhyuk just raised an eyebrow.

Children of the university president? Sigh… This is going to be another mess, he thought.

He could only rub his temples, feeling once again how absurd his life had become.